Self-Portrait 1838

Editor: So here we have Louis Meijer's "Self-Portrait," painted in 1838, oil on canvas. There's a sense of intimacy to it, wouldn’t you say? Almost as if we've just stumbled into his studio and caught him mid-pose with his very good boy. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Intimacy, definitely. And something a bit performative too, perhaps? It feels very self-aware. The meticulous detail given to his own visage, that ever-so-stylish cap... Do you think he's telling us something about the role of the artist in society? Perhaps how he sees himself? Editor: I think that's a good point, particularly the artist’s role. I guess it invites a certain consideration on the artist and his profession. Curator: Yes. But don’t forget about the Romanticism thing either. What I find striking is the seascape he is creating, a common theme for Romantic painters. The painting he is holding also gives him the chance to reveal the importance of nature for this particular artist. You have a portrait of the artist, but also, as part of that, the subject that inspires him. That dog looks far too obedient, wouldn't you agree? As if the scene had been orchestrated with extreme detail to provide a unique message? Editor: Hmm, now that you point it out, the dog *does* look like it's acting! Curator: It really feels as though he has control over his own image and presentation in that canvas, which I would dare to say he succeeds in brilliantly. Overall it is very striking indeed. Editor: I can certainly appreciate it more now, understanding the potential message Meijer tried to display about himself as an artist, plus the clever additions such as his love for nature in the Romantic period, displayed via the ocean painting on the easel. It gives it another dimension of meaning.